Zinke says it is "better for the environment to produce energy here with responsible regulation," but what the Sentinel article didn't mention is that Trump just proposed to weaken rules on offshore oil and gas drilling that were imposed after the deadly 2010 rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The new rules required more frequent inspection of devices like blowout preventers, which caused the BP spill, but now those rules are being weakened, even as they want to expand offshore drilling. Nothing responsible about that.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The most important thing it to let your views be known to those who have the power - many of whom are in their positions to represent the people that voted for them.

*yawn*Remember over regulation and $4.00/gallon gas? Thanks to Marcellus shale exploration in your states NY, PA and MD (and elsewhere) we now have abundant energy. Every available resource should be explored. Extremely low risk, high reward.

*yawn*Remember over regulation and $4.00/gallon gas? Thanks to Marcellus shale exploration in your states NY, PA and MD (and elsewhere) we now have abundant energy. Every available resource should be explored. Extremely low risk, high reward.

hatterasnc

Yup. If you run a/c allsummer long, drive a SUV, Heat your home with fossil fuels, or electricity derived from same. Then you need to live with the need to extract oil/gas. Solar and wind won't cut it. BTW I don't run A/C except on the very hottest days, about 2 weeks a summer. Drive a small car most of the time. And spend 25% of the year living off grid using solar power. If fat America gives up the soft life we could do away with fossil fuels.

*yawn*Remember over regulation and $4.00/gallon gas? Thanks to Marcellus shale exploration in your states NY, PA and MD (and elsewhere) we now have abundant energy. Every available resource should be explored. Extremely low risk, high reward.

hatterasnc

Pretty much what I was thinking. Everyone wants what we want but not in my backyard. I'm for it as well.

I have no issue with extraction. I worked for a natural gas company for 20 years. But there is a right way and a wrong way to extract. I doubt the people in Oklahoma dealing with the many earthquakes that fracking has brought to their communities would say it's low risk (they're getting close to California's earthquake level). And people who live on the coast, who make their living from the coast, and who own rental property on the coast have every right to demand that the best safety and regulatory measures be put in place before we even consider ramping up drilling. But that isn't going to happen; it's just the opposite. If we're asked to sacrifice our coasts to potential spills, to sacrifice our marine mammals and fish to the physical harm of seismic testing, and sacrifice our tourism business to the economic downsides of big oil rigs and pollution along the coast, then we have a right to see it done in the safest manner possible. They should be bending over backwards to reassure us that they plan to keep tight oversight of the oil/gas industry and enforce strict rules to ensure a BP spill doesn't happen again, especially considering the economic engine that are the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. And they should allow states to determine whether drilling occurs off their coasts. But all I see and hear is industry running the show, and I don't have confidence it will change anytime soon.

*yawn*Remember over regulation and $4.00/gallon gas? Thanks to Marcellus shale exploration in your states NY, PA and MD (and elsewhere) we now have abundant energy. Every available resource should be explored. Extremely low risk, high reward.

hatterasnc

I remember the $4.00/g gas, but I don't remember over regulation being the cause. It's funny how, with no major regulatory changes, the price declined to it's current level.

Also, if we have "abundant energy", why do we need to explore for more? In any case, gas and oil, like coal, are on the usage decline. It's only a matter of time before the supply will far exceed the demand (at least in first world countries). I guess It could be used as an export...

*yawn*Remember over regulation and $4.00/gallon gas? Thanks to Marcellus shale exploration in your states NY, PA and MD (and elsewhere) we now have abundant energy. Every available resource should be explored. Extremely low risk, high reward.

hatterasnc

I guess It could be used as an export...

John

J4yDubs

You are starting to get it.National Security for the Nation and People is enhanced through abundant natural resources, adequate power production and infrastructure, and selected trade exports of fossil fuels to benefit America.As for "the groups" going to Raleigh and Cooper's unfortunate position on this, NC would be left behind on all aspects of energy, including alternative "renewable" sources which consume more energy than produced, and the career opportunities and royalties that come with energy exploration.

And I’ve seen the benefits fracking has brought to the poor towns of northern PA. With benefits to the environment as well. And how the entire east coasts natural gas costs are 1/3 of what they were in 2000.

Sorry folks, I have seen how the Ohio valley has been raped by fracking. Hoping for the best for OBX!

Retire2018

How so? Please explain your "raped" comment. You can't come in here and drop a turd without basis. What is your basis...or bias?

Mine and MOST affected persons have positive comments regarding hydraulic fracturing to produce natural gas and oil. For me, my property in PA, my well and property rights are treated well, are unaffected and I receive weekly updates and well water sampling from two independent labs (one that I choose).

Help us understand your response, and how it relates to offshore energy exploration.

Apologies- Here is further explanation. I have no royalties from selling mineral rights. There are several landowners who have benefited I am sure. I see the hills and dales in Eastern Ohio with trees removed for zigzagging pipelines. The water haulers carrying both fresh water, which nearly dried our near by creek, as well as fracking waste water drive by our home 24 hours a day- Where does that waste water go?How much GAS does that take? I have seen locally and on the news several rather severe fires from these gas lines/wells. Motor vehicle accidents due to large trucks on county roads, and jack-knifed trucks with spills are a common occurence. Sorry folks but I do not believe this is the answer to cheaper gas anymore than offshore drilling is. I am not a conspiracy theorist, or want to get political, but I have to believe the best and brightest in this US of A can figure out a better way to produce sustainable energy.

Apologies- Here is further explanation. I have no royalties from selling mineral rights. There are several landowners who have benefited I am sure. I see the hills and dales in Eastern Ohio with trees removed for zigzagging pipelines. The water haulers carrying both fresh water, which nearly dried our near by creek, as well as fracking waste water drive by our home 24 hours a day- Where does that waste water go?How much GAS does that take? I have seen locally and on the news several rather severe fires from these gas lines/wells. Motor vehicle accidents due to large trucks on county roads, and jack-knifed trucks with spills are a common occurence. Sorry folks but I do not believe this is the answer to cheaper gas anymore than offshore drilling is. I am not a conspiracy theorist, or want to get political, but I have to believe the best and brightest in this US of A can figure out a better way to produce sustainable energy.

Retire2018

Retire2018 - the apology should come from me for calling you out. You have personal observations of how this is affecting you. Although I disagree with gas line fires and waste water truck spills being a common occurrence, I respect your observations and opinions. Be well.

"...The “Rally to Raleigh” buses will leave from Wilmington, Morehead City and Nags Head for the meeting. For $10 each, coastal residents can secure their seat on one of the buses.Riders are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. Buses will leave at 12:30 or 1:30 p.m., depending on location, and return by 10 p.m..."

Thanks mini. Now we know who the groups are. The SELC would give many folks pause after their bitter litigative history against Hatteras beach access and the Bonner Bridge.. Not sure I would cozy up with them. just my opinion.

Interesting article. Up here they used explosives to generate the 3D seismic surveys. It did disturb the turkey hunting for a season, mainly due to activity. But if fat Americans want air conditioned beach houses and big suvs and cheap heat then we need more fuel. We didn’t need to increase our population by 20 percent with foreigners, mainly in cities which are major energy hogs and pollution generators. We sure shouldn’t be burning corn for fuel. We could have put solar panels on every roof with a fraction of the 10 trillion of debt our go gave to bankers and special interests over the last 9 years. We’re a self centered energy hog society, until that changes our security calls for more energy.

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